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When talking about the areas the Kansas City Chiefs need to address as 864 players hit the market this weekend, backup quarterback is a position that's consistently mentioned. Behind starter QB Matt Cassel, the Chiefs have QB Tyler Palko and QB Ricky Stanzi.
Cassel's obviously going to make the team and Stanzi, a fifth round pick, almost assuredly will. Palko, meanwhile, played the entire second half of Thursday night's game against the Green Bay Packers. It makes you wonder if he played that much because the Chiefs aren't sure what they're going to do with him yet.
If they do decide to look elsewhere for a veteran backup quarterback, QB Kevin O'Connell would be a name to keep in mind. The Miami Dolphins released him today, according to reports out of Miami.
O'Connell is connected to GM Scott Pioli, who was with the New England Patriots in April 2008 when O'Connell was selected in the third round. O'Connell has hit the waiver wire before though we're not sure if the Chiefs have ever put a claim in on him. Just a couple years ago some people thought the Chiefs would want him.
Would they be interested in O'Connell? Should they be?
He's not exactly the veteran backup I've argued they should sign and I'm not sure how much of an upgrade, if at all, he would be over what the Chiefs currently have but, with Pioli's familiarity, I wouldn't be shocked if they took a look.